Abstract: Disclosed is a polymer material comprised of at least one non-cyclic ceramic-forming polymer. The porosity and elemental composition of the resulting ceramic can be varied by inclusion of polymers with particular ratios of carbon, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen and by manipulation of the conditions under which the polymer material is converted to a ceramic. The resulting ceramic may be useful in fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), semiconductor fabrication, fiber coatings, friction materials, and fire resistant coatings.